Finally, the primary election campaigns are over and people can vote, if they wish. Independents who don’t want to shred their good reputations by declaring they’re in one of the two parties that control the state and nation have no reason to vote — unless they live in a jurisdiction requesting a tax increase.

For most Rockford independents, there’s no point in voting because their choices would be zilch.

For the rest of us who will go to the polls and request either a Republican or Democratic ballot, there are choices. The most important contest is for the GOP nomination for governor.

There are four GOP candidates: state Treasurer Dan Rutherford, state Sen. Kirk Dillard of DuPage County, state Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington and businessman Bruce Rauner of Winnetka.

I’ve talked with them all. Rauner clearly has the most energy and enthusiasm as he talks of fundamental reforms that would make Illinois a pro-business state on the Scott Walker, Mitch Daniels models. And with his unlimited campaign war chest of personal money earned at his venture capital firm, Rauner has been able to bombard the airwaves with his “Aw shucks, I’m just a businessman wearing khaki pants and a checkered shirt. How do you like my $18 watch?”

He doesn’t mention his mansions, exotic apartments in Chicago and New York City and ranches out west.

Nevertheless, Rauner has been the frontrunner in this race, the crusader for change in a year when voters are restless and tired of the status quo.

Rauner said Monday in Rockford that he aims to stuff Gov. Pat Quinn “in the dustbin of Illinois history. If Bruce doesn’t win, I’d consider it an upset.

Yes, there is a GOP race for the U.S. Senate nomination, with the winner taking on U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Springfield, on Nov. 4. Durbin is the Senate majority whip, seeking a fourth term.

On the one hand we have businessman and ice cream man Jim Oberweis of Sugar Grove. He’s run unsuccessfully for: U.S. House in 2008; governor in 2006; U.S. Senate in 2004 and 2002. Finally, in 2012, Oberweis won a state Senate seat.

On the other hand we have Doug Truax, a West Point graduate and Army Ranger veteran. Truax is a businessman who specializes in health care consulting to help businesses control employee health care and pension costs. He and his family live in Downers Grove.

Truax is running as a fresh face. His campaign has criticized Oberweis for spending the campaign’s final week in Florida. Oberweis said he promised his wife they’d go to Florida for her birthday.

Could Adam Kinzinger actually be worried about winning the 16th Congressional District primary? The Republican congressman from Channahon sure has been running a lot of TV ads in Rockford, a major TV market in his district. One of them was filmed in Rockford along the Rock River recreational path, with Kinzinger jogging away, while the message “Servant Leadership” appears on the nearby lawn.

Page 2 of 2 - Although experts don’t think Kinzinger will be defeated by Tea Party leader David Hale, this race is all about margin of victory. If Hale takes more than 25 or 30 percent of the vote, that’s a potential sign of weakness, seeing as Hale has not had the money to wage a high-profile campaign. And if newcomer Hale makes a credible showing, it will give him credibility in a future run for political office.